Driffield

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Town and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England

title: "Driffield" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["driffield", "market-towns-in-the-east-riding-of-yorkshire", "civil-parishes-in-the-east-riding-of-yorkshire", "towns-in-the-east-riding-of-yorkshire"] description: "Town and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England" topic_path: "general/driffield" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driffield" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Town and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox UK place"]

FieldValue
countryEngland
coordinates
label_positionbottom
official_nameDriffield
population13,080
population_ref(2011 census)
civil_parishDriffield
unitary_englandEast Riding of Yorkshire
regionYorkshire and the Humber
lieutenancy_englandEast Riding of Yorkshire
constituency_westminsterBridlington and the Wolds
post_townDRIFFIELD
postcode_districtYO25
postcode_areaYO
dial_code01377
os_grid_referenceTA023577
static_image_name{{multiple image
borderinfobox
total_width250
image_styleborder:1;
perrow2/1/2
image1Clock and the Bell Hotel Driffield - geograph.org.uk - 501144.jpg
caption1Town Clock & Bell Hotel
image2All Saints Church Driffield 1.jpg
caption2All Saints
image3Market Place, Driffield - geograph.org.uk - 5064179.jpg
caption3The Marketplace
image4Warehouse Buildings - geograph.org.uk - 424120.jpg
caption4The Canal
image5Bradshaw Flour Mill - geograph.org.uk - 5430165.jpg
caption5Flour Mill
static_image_2_nameDriffield Coat of Arms.png
static_image_2_width100px
static_image_2_captionArms of Driffield Town Council
london_distance_mi175
london_directionS
::

| country = England | coordinates = | label_position = bottom | official_name = Driffield | population = 13,080 | population_ref = (2011 census) | civil_parish = Driffield | unitary_england = East Riding of Yorkshire | region = Yorkshire and the Humber | lieutenancy_england = East Riding of Yorkshire | constituency_westminster = Bridlington and the Wolds | post_town = DRIFFIELD | postcode_district = YO25 | postcode_area = YO | dial_code = 01377 | os_grid_reference = TA023577 | static_image_name = {{multiple image | border = infobox | total_width = 250 | image_style = border:1; | perrow = 2/1/2 | image1 = Clock and the Bell Hotel Driffield - geograph.org.uk - 501144.jpg | caption1 = Town Clock & Bell Hotel | image2 = All Saints Church Driffield 1.jpg | caption2 = All Saints | image3 = Market Place, Driffield - geograph.org.uk - 5064179.jpg | caption3 = The Marketplace | image4 = Warehouse Buildings - geograph.org.uk - 424120.jpg | caption4 = The Canal | image5 = Bradshaw Flour Mill - geograph.org.uk - 5430165.jpg | caption5 = Flour Mill | static_image_caption = | static_image_2_name = Driffield Coat of Arms.png | static_image_2_width = 100px | static_image_2_caption = Arms of Driffield Town Council | london_distance_mi = 175 | london_direction = S

Driffield, also known as Great Driffield (neighbouring Little Driffield), is a market town and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The civil parish is formed by the town of Driffield and the village of Little Driffield. By road, it is 53 mi north-east of Leeds, 29 mi east of York and 23 mi north of Hull.

Driffield, being near the centre of the Yorkshire Wolds, is named The Capital of the Wolds.

According to the 2011 UK census, Driffield parish had a population of 13,080, an increase on the 2001 UK census figure of 11,477.

The town was listed in the 2019 Sunday Times report on the Best Places to Live in northern England.

History

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7d/Driffield00.jpg" caption="1838}}"] ::

Driffield is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and the name is first attested in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle where King Aldfrith of Northumbria died on 14 December 705. It is also found in the Domesday Book of 1086, meaning "dirty (manured) field".

A Bronze Age mound outside Driffield was excavated in the 19th century, the contents of which are now kept in the British Museum. It includes a knife, a dagger, a beaker and a greenstone wrist-guard all dating to between 2200 and 1500 BC.

The remains of Driffield Castle, a motte-and-bailey castle, sit at Moot Hill.

RAF Driffield was targeted by the Luftwaffe during the Second World War. On 15 August 1940, a raid by Junkers Ju 88s resulted in 14 deaths and many injuries. RAF Driffield was the site of the first death in the WAAF during the Second World War.

Governance

The town is a major part of the Driffield and Rural electoral ward. This ward stretches north-west to Sledmere with a total population taken at the 2011 Census of 15,199. It is part of the Bridlington and the Wolds constituency for elections to Westminster. Driffield Town Hall is no longer used for public events and was acquired by The Bell Hotel in 1986.

On 1 April 1935 the parish of "Great Driffield" was abolished to form "Driffield", part also went to Nafferton. At the 1931 census (the last before the abolition of the parish), Great Driffield had a population of 5915.

Culture and amenities

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c6/Driffield,Market_Place_1992-geograph.org.uk-_4431273.jpg" caption="access-date=10 August 2017}}"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f6/Driffield_Showground_-geograph.org.uk-_918610.jpg" caption="The Driffield Showground"] ::

The town is home to Driffield Show, the United Kingdom’s largest one-day annual agricultural show, as well as the Driffield Steam and Vintage Rally – an event held each August showcasing historical vehicles including traction engines, fairground organs, tractors and vintage cars and trucks. A particular focus is placed upon agricultural history, with demonstrations of ploughing and threshing often taking place. The rally is particularly known for the Saturday evening road-run of the steam engines and other vehicles into Driffield town centre, an event which invariably attracts large crowds of spectators.

Driffield also has a small community hospital (known as Alfred Bean Hospital), a fire station, a local police station, and several churches.

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9b/Canal_Head_Driffield.jpg" caption="Driffield canal"] ::

Driffield lies in the Yorkshire Wolds, on the Driffield Navigation canal, and near the source of the River Hull. This is maintained by the Driffield Navigation Trust and the group hosts an annual raft race and open day gala at the River Head.

The Driffield Beck runs roughly parallel to the main high street. Some stretches of Driffield Beck are popular for fishing, particularly for brown trout and grayling.

Education

There are two infant schools (Driffield Northfield Infant School and Driffield Church Of England Voluntary Controlled Infant School), and one larger junior school (Driffield Junior School), which caters for children aged 7–11. Driffield School & Sixth Form is a large secondary school that also contains a sixth form, and so offers education up to A level standard. The town also includes Kings Mill Special School. The nearest independent school is Pocklington School.

Transport

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ab/Northern158902_at_Driffield_station.jpg" caption="Driffield Railway Station"] ::

Driffield lies on the A614, A166 and B1249.

The town is served by Driffield railway station on the Yorkshire Coast Line, with services currently run by Northern and has direct trains to Sheffield, Doncaster, York, Hull, Beverley, Bridlington, and Scarborough.

East Yorkshire Motor Services provide regular services to Hull, Pocklington, Beverley, Bridlington, and Scarborough.

Demography

::data[format=table]

PopulationYear18011811182118311841185118811891190119111921193119511961197119811991200120112021Total
1,4111,8572,3032,6603,2233,9635,9375,7006,0365,6765,7916,0407,0066,8927,8959,10010,06211,47713,080
::

Religion

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/af/All_Saints_Church_Driffield_2.jpg" caption="All Saints' Church"] ::

There are nine churches in Driffield, which work together as 'Churches Together in Driffield'.

The Anglican church dedicated to All Saints was designated a Grade I listed building in 1963 and is now recorded in the National Heritage List for England, maintained by Historic England. St Mary's church is within the same benefice as All Saints but actually sits in neighbouring Little Driffield. (There was once a second Anglican Church in Driffield itself, dedicated to Saint John and located on St Johns Road, but it has been demolished.)

There is a small Roman Catholic Church dedicated to Our Lady and Saint Edward that was built in 1886. The Methodist Church stands on Middle Street North. The former 1880 building, was demolished in November 2018 and replaced by a modern building. Bourne Methodists is a Primitive Methodist Church, sited on Westgate. The Salvation Army have a building on The Mount.

Driffield Christian Fellowship is an Elim Pentecostal church who have a building on Wansford Road. Their church service is held in the Performing Arts Hall at Driffield School. The Congregational Church is situated on Exchange Street. The Revive Church meets in the Community Centre on Mill Street.

Traditions

The age-old tradition of Scrambling is unique to the town of Driffield and has its origins in the 18th century. The event takes place a couple of days into the New Year. Children walk through the main street shouting an ancient rhyme to shopkeepers in return for money and goodies. The cry is "Here we are at our town's end...With a shoulder of mutton and a crown to spend...Are we downhearted?..No!...Shall we win?...Yes!..."

It is also tradition for the townspeople of Driffield to congregate in the market place on New Year's Eve and listen for the church bells ringing in the new year.

Climate

The climate in Driffield is warm and temperate, with higher than average rainfall. This climate is considered to be Cfb according to the Köppen-Geiger climate classification. In Driffield, the average annual temperature is 9.5 °C. The average annual rainfall is 719 mm.

|location = Climate data for Driffield |metric first = yes |single line = yes |Feb high C = 5.8 |Mar high C = 8.2 |Apr high C = 10.7 |May high C = 14.0 |Jun high C = 16.8 |Jul high C = 19.6 |Aug high C = 19.7 |Sep high C = 16.6 |Oct high C = 12.4 |Nov high C = 8.4 |Dec high C = 5.8 |year high C = 12.0 |Jan low C = 0.6 |Feb low C = 0.6 |Mar low C = 1.9 |Apr low C = 3.4 |May low C = 6.0 |Jun low C = 8.6 |Jul low C = 10.9 |Aug low C = 11.0 |Sep low C = 9.4 |Oct low C = 6.6 |Nov low C = 3.4 |Dec low C = 1.0 |year low C = 5.3 |Jan record low C = -5 |Feb record low C = -9 |Mar record low C = -6 |Apr record low C = -3 |May record low C = 1 |Jun record low C = 2 |Jul record low C = 5 |Aug record low C = 5 |Sep record low C = -1 |Oct record low C = -4 |Nov record low C = -8 |Dec record low C = -11 |year record low C = -11 |Jan precipitation mm = 65.7 |Feb precipitation mm = 51.6 |Mar precipitation mm = 56.8 |Apr precipitation mm = 58.9 |May precipitation mm = 49.9 |Jun precipitation mm = 69.8 |Jul precipitation mm = 58.3 |Aug precipitation mm = 64.1 |Sep precipitation mm = 62.9 |Oct precipitation mm = 68.4 |Nov precipitation mm = 74.0 |Dec precipitation mm = 71.0 |year precipitation mm = 751.1 |Jan precipitation days = 13.0 |Feb precipitation days = 10.7 |Mar precipitation days = 11.0 |Apr precipitation days = 10.0 |May precipitation days = 9.6 |Jun precipitation days = 10.5 |Jul precipitation days = 9.9 |Aug precipitation days = 10.6 |Sep precipitation days = 9.4 |Oct precipitation days = 12.0 |Nov precipitation days = 13.3 |Dec precipitation days = 12.4 |year precipitation days = 132.3 |Jan sun = 52.3 |Feb sun = 76.6 |Mar sun = 110.0 |Apr sun = 149.5 |May sun = 198.8 |Jun sun = 179.1 |Jul sun = 191.9 |Aug sun = 178.4 |Sep sun = 139.4 |Oct sun = 104.8 |Nov sun = 64.4 |Dec sun = 46.6 |year sun = 1491.7 |source 1 = Met Office

Sport

Driffield was formerly home to Driffield Mariners Football Club, who have won three Hull Sunday League titles in recent years. Now to this present day, there are two main men's team who both play at the second highest league in the East Riding. Driffield Junior Football Club and Driffield Evening Institute who both play in the Humber Premier League Division One. Driffield also has its own football league, Driffield and District League and was founded in 1919 and currently only has 1 division which consists of 9 teams from within Driffield and district.

The town has a cricket club, the first team of which play in the ECB Yorkshire Premier League North. First class cricketers Andrew Gale, Richard Pyrah, Steven Patterson, Jonny Bairstow, Ishara Amerasinghe and Abid Ali have all played for the club.

Driffield RUFC is a member of the RFU and Yorkshire RFU, playing its senior fixtures in the Regional 1 North East and Women's Championship North 2 leagues. The club field five senior teams (four men's and a women's), a colts team (both boys and girls) and mini/juniors (at every age group from under 7's to under 17's).

Driffield Hockey Club play their home matches at Driffield Sports Centre and currently field three men's teams and four ladies' teams, as well as juniors and vets sections. For a catchment area the size of Driffield, the club is relatively successful, with both the men's and ladies first XIs being promoted from their respective YHA Yorkshire Premier Divisions at the end of the 2013–14 season (6th tier of English Hockey) to the North League Division 2 East and North League Division 2 South East respectively (5th tier of English Hockey).

Driffield has an 18-hole golf club that has been at its present location since 1934.

Driffield featured on the route of the 2017 Tour de Yorkshire.

Driffield has a sports centre located on Bridlington Road, which opened in 2009 replacing the old sports centre (now owned by Driffield School). The new sports centre includes a main pool and learner pool, sports hall, a 50-piece gym, and a studio/multi-use room.

Media

Driffield and the Wolds are served by the local newspaper, Driffield & Wolds Weekly, launched in August 2015. The Driffield Times ceased publication in 2016.

Local news and television programmes are provided by BBC Yorkshire and Lincolnshire and ITV Yorkshire. Television signals are received from the Belmont TV transmitter.

The town's local radio stations are BBC Radio Humberside on 95.9 FM, Nation Radio East Yorkshire on 99.8 FM, Capital Yorkshire on 105.8 FM, Hits Radio East Yorkshire & North Lincolnshire on 96.9 FM and Great Driffield Radio, launched in November 2018 on 107.2 FM, broadcasts across the town and surrounding villages.

In popular culture

Slaughterhouse Studios was a recording studio in the town between 1985 and 1992. Bands including Napalm Death, The Mission, and most notably Happy Mondays would record there.

Twin towns

Driffield is twinned with Saint Affrique, France.

Notable people

References

Sources

References

  1. (18 January 2019). "Why Wolds capital Driffield is a boom town for buyers". Yorkshire Post.
  2. "Driffield Parish".
  3. "Driffield Parish".
  4. "Driffield, East Yorkshire – Best Places to Live in the UK 2019". [[The Sunday Times]].
  5. ''Anglo-Saxon Chronicle'', Peterborough Manuscript (E), 706, translated and edited by Michael Swanton, (1996), p. 41
  6. {{OpenDomesday
  7. (1960). "The concise Oxford dictionary of English place-names". Oxford University Press.
  8. {{NHLE
  9. "Driffield and Rural Ward (as of 2011)".
  10. (23 May 2024). "The new Hull and East Riding constituencies for the general election following boundary shake-up".
  11. "Town Trail". Driffield Town Council.
  12. "Great Driffield (Parish) through time". [[A Vision of Britain through Time]].
  13. "Population statistics Great Driffield through time". A Vision of Britain through Time.
  14. "About the Town". Welcome to Driffield.
  15. "Market forces and a family tradition". Yorkshire Post.
  16. (17 July 2019). "Driffield Show revels in the heat at 144th edition". [[Yorkshire Post]].
  17. "Driffield Show". Welcome to Driffield.
  18. "Driffield Steam and Vintage Rally". Driffield Vintage Rally.
  19. WDYUK. "Driffield Steam & Vintage Rally". Driffield Show.
  20. "Steam rally road run changes". Bridlington Free Press.
  21. "Driffield Navigation Trust".
  22. "About Mulberry Whin Chalkstream Flyfishing – Mulberry Whin Chalkstream Flyfishing".
  23. "Driffield Northfield Infant School". East Riding of Yorkshire Council.
  24. "Driffield CE VC Infant School". East Riding of Yorkshire Council.
  25. "Driffield Junior School – General Information". Driffield Junior School.
  26. "Home". Driffield School.
  27. "Kings Mill Special School". Kings Mill School.
  28. (3 September 2007). "Driffield". CarlBerry.co.uk.
  29. Harrison, Stephen. (2002). "The History of Driffield". Blackthorn Press.
  30. "Churches Together: Churches Together in Driffield – About Us".
  31. {{National Heritage List for England
  32. "Revive Church – Driffield".
  33. "The Discovery Service". The National Archives.
  34. (6 September 2011). "History". Driffield Catholic Church.
  35. "Welcome – Driffield Methodist Church". Driffield Methodist Church.
  36. "Genuki: GREAT DRIFFIELD: Geographical and Historical information from the year 1892.".
  37. "New Church in Driffield, East Yorkshire". The Methodist Church.
  38. "Churches Together: Churches Together in Driffield – Churches".
  39. "Salvation Army Tea party for church funds in Driffield, East Yorkshire". Pocklington Post.
  40. "Finding Us – Driffield Christian Fellowship".
  41. "Driffield – North East – Find a Church – Congregational Federation".
  42. "Driffield's scrambling tradition draws the crowds". BBC News.
  43. "Driffield climate: Average Temperature, weather by month, Driffield weather averages".
  44. "Driffield climate". Met Office.
  45. "Driffield RUFC". Driffield Rugby Union Football Club.
  46. "Driffield Hockey Club".
  47. "Yorkshire Hockey Association". Yorkshireha.org.uk.
  48. "DRIFFIELD GOLF CLUB". Driffield Golf Club.
  49. (28 April 2017). "Tour de Yorkshire 2017: Latest updates from stage one". [[BBC News]].
  50. "Driffield Leisure Centre opens to public". Healthclubmanagement.co.uk.
  51. "Independent weekly claims 4,000 sale as JP rival exits patch". HoldtheFrontPage.
  52. (1 May 2004). "Belmont (Lincolnshire, England) Full Freeview transmitter".
  53. (27 November 2018). "Great Driffield Radio launch day announced". Great Driffield Radio.
  54. Jones, Tim. (12 May 2015). "Remembering Slaughterhouse Studios". All About Rock.
  55. Wray, Daniel Dylan. (1 February 2016). "Driff-Raff: Happy Mondays, Bummed & Driffield". The Quietus.
  56. "Feature: Twin Town – MyDriffield – News and features from Driffield and the Wolds". My Driffield.
  57. (12 April 2003). "Garden celebrates Victorian printer". BBC News.
  58. "Benjamin Fawcett the finest of Victorian colour printers". Benjaminfawcett.co.uk.
  59. (17 December 2018). "Curtis Woodhouse hails response to opening gym up to homeless people – Boxing News". Boxing News.
  60. (17 August 2018). "Music interview – Woody Woodmansey: 'Ziggy Stardust took a hold so strong'". The Yorkshire Post.

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driffieldmarket-towns-in-the-east-riding-of-yorkshirecivil-parishes-in-the-east-riding-of-yorkshiretowns-in-the-east-riding-of-yorkshire